ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to clarify whether it stands with Pakistan or Afghanistan as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to face a wave of deadly terrorist attacks.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Tarar accused the PTI-led provincial government of failing to take ownership of counterterrorism efforts or adopt effective measures to curb militancy.
Tarar alleged that the PTI had facilitated terrorists over the past several years, claiming that his criticism of the party as a “B-team of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)” was justified by what he described as its past conduct.
He said the PTI had governed KP for around 12 and a half years, which he argued was sufficient time to improve security and governance in the province.
The minister alleged that the provincial government had failed to tackle terrorism as well as provide essential public services, forcing residents to travel to other provinces for basic facilities.
He further claimed that the federal government had offered modern vehicles to the KP police, but the provincial authorities declined the offer.
“Our firm resolve is to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from its roots,” Tarar said.
He accused the PTI leadership of leaving the KP police vulnerable to terrorist attacks and criticised the provincial government for not condemning recent cross-border firing from Afghanistan.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is burning in the fire of terrorism,” the minister said, alleging that the provincial leadership was instead focused on securing the release of a jailed political leader.
The press conference came amid a fresh escalation in terrorist violence across the province, with civilians and security personnel among those killed in recent attacks.
Earlier this week, at least 13 people, including two women and a two-year-old child, were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into an anti-smuggling check post in the Darazanda area of Dera Ismail Khan.
According to sources, Customs, Excise and Rescue officials as well as civilians were among the victims.
Last week, 22 people, including 16 police personnel, were killed and 103 others wounded in explosions targeting a mosque inside Kohat Police Lines during Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, security forces reportedly foiled attempts by Afghan Taliban fighters to launch attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing several Taliban personnel during a retaliatory operation.
Tarar also questioned the utilisation of funds allocated to KP under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for counterterrorism activities.
“Billions of rupees are provided annually to the KP government. Where have the funds allocated for counterterrorism been spent?” he asked.
The information minister accused KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of political and administrative failure, saying that lawlessness and destruction had spread across the province.
He further alleged that the provincial government had failed to take adequate measures to contain the deteriorating security situation.
‘Why the soft approach towards Afghanistan?’
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, speaking at the outset of the press conference, questioned the KP government’s policy towards Afghanistan and its handling of terrorism.
“Why do you have a soft approach towards Afghanistan?” Chaudhry asked.
He said terrorist attacks could not be described as jihad, alleging that those involved in such activities were financially motivated.
“The facilitators of attacks are present across our eastern and western borders,” he claimed.
Chaudhry also alleged that bulletproof vehicles provided to provincial authorities had subsequently been returned.
He criticised amendments under a new police law, claiming that the changes were aimed at curtailing police powers.
According to the minister, the KP government had repeatedly asked the federal government to involve it in counterterrorism consultations but later failed to attend meetings convened on the issue.
Chaudhry said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired weekly meetings on the security situation, questioning the provincial government’s absence from such consultations.
“You come to Islamabad to seek NFC funds, but do not attend counterterrorism meetings,” he said.
